St. Johnstone 2 - 0 Aberdeen

Disappointing Form at Perth

IF St Johnstone are in the same irresistible mood at Pittodrie next Monday as they were at Muirton Park last night Aberdeen will have to exert themselves fully to wipe out the two-goal lead gained by the Perth men in the first of the Dewar Shield semi-finals.

A crowd 7000 looked for something more skilful and entertaining than the football served by the Dons. With Kelly almost blotted out of the game by Saints' grand pivot Johnstone, the Aberdeen attack never got going. Only Pearson and Stenhouse engineered fitful dangerous moves in the Perth goal area.
The home wing halves, Kane and Lindsay, timed their tackles to a split second, and punchless, over-ornate weaving by the Dons paid no dividends.
Taylor and Waddell were tireless wing-halves.
Johnstone, a busy man throughout, was at his brightest and best. McKenna just emerged superior to McLaughlin over a really testing time in which both backs worked with grand effect against a crisp, thrustful front line.

First Bit of Colour,/p> After fifteen minutes in which Campbell was never called on to save, Pearson provided the first real bit of colour for the visitors when he rounded Hiddlestone and darted into the middle with real menace. Johnstone, however, averted the danger with a timely tackle.
Pearson came again, and slung a perfect ball into the middle. It looked as if Stenhouse would open the scoring, but Campbeil leapt across his goal to bring off a splendid save.
Saints counted in each half. The first was a Peat effort from the penalty spot, after Brown had been impeded by two Dons' defenders.
Twenty-seven minutes of the second half had gone when Brown sent Blytb through to beat the advancing Johnstone.

Source: Press & Journal, 13th April 1948